505.8 Commissioner’s general powers and duties — consumer advocate bureau established. 1. The commissioner of insurance shall be the head of the division, and shall have general control, supervision, and direction over all insurance business transacted in thestate, and shall enforce all the laws of the state relating to federal and state insurancebusiness transacted in the state. 2. The commissioner shall, subject to chapter 17A, establish, publish, and enforce rules not inconsistent with law for the enforcement of this subtitle and for the enforcement of thelaws, the administration and supervision of which are imposed on the division, including rulesto establish fees sufficient to administer the laws, where appropriate fees are not otherwiseprovided for in rule or statute. 3. The commissioner shall supervise all transactions relating to the organization, reorganization, liquidation, and dissolution of domestic insurance corporations, and alltransactions leading up to the organization of such corporations. 4. The commissioner shall also supervise the sale in the state of all stock, certificates, or other evidences of interest, either by domestic or foreign insurance companies tion of such corporations. 4. The commissioner shall also supervise the sale in the state of all stock, certificates, or other evidences of interest, either by domestic or foreign insurance companies ororganizations proposing to engage in any insurance business. 5. The commissioner shall supervise all health insurance purchasing cooperatives providing services or operating within the state and the organization of domesticcooperatives. The commissioner may admit nondomestic health insurance purchasing cooperatives under the same standards as domestic cooperatives. 6. The commissioner shall provide assistance to the public and to consumers of insurance products and services in this state. a. The commissioner shall accept inquiries and complaints from the public regarding the business of insurance. The commissioner or the commissioner’s designee may respond toinquiries and complaints, and may examine or investigate such inquiries and complaints todetermine whether laws in this subtitle and rules adopted pursuant to such laws have beenviolated. b. The commissioner shall establish a bureau, to be known as the 'consumer advocate bureau', which shall be responsible for ensuring fair le and rules adopted pursuant to such laws have beenviolated. b. The commissioner shall establish a bureau, to be known as the 'consumer advocate bureau', which shall be responsible for ensuring fair treatment of consumers and forpreventing unfair or deceptive trade practices in the marketplace and by persons under thejurisdiction of the commissioner. (1) The commissioner, with the advice of the governor, shall appoint a consumer advocate who shall be knowledgeable in the area of insurance and particularly in the area of consumerprotection. The consumer advocate shall be the chief administrator of the consumer advocatebureau. (2) The consumer advocate bureau may receive and may investigate consumer complaints and inquiries from the public, and may conduct investigations to determine whether anyperson has violated any provision of the insurance code, including chapters 507B and 522B,and any provisions related to the establishment of insurance rates. (3) The consumer advocate bureau shall perform other functions as may be assigned to it by the commissioner related to consumer advocacy. (4) The consumer advocate bureau shall work in conjunction with other areas of the insurance u shall perform other functions as may be assigned to it by the commissioner related to consumer advocacy. (4) The consumer advocate bureau shall work in conjunction with other areas of the insurance division on matters of mutual interest. The insurance division shall cooperatewith the consumer advocate in fulfilling the duties of the consumer advocate bureau. Theconsumer advocate may also seek assistance from other federal or state agencies or privateentities for the purpose of assisting consumers. (5) When necessary or appropriate to protect the public interest or consumers, the consumer advocate may request that the commissioner conduct rate filing reviews asprovided in section 505.15 or administrative hearings as provided in section 505.29. (6) The commissioner, in cooperation with the consumer advocate, shall prepare and deliver a report to the general assembly by January 15 of each year that contains findingsand recommendations regarding the activities of the consumer advocate bureau includingbut not limited to all of the following: (a) An overview of the functions of the bureau. ar that contains findingsand recommendations regarding the activities of the consumer advocate bureau includingbut not limited to all of the following: (a) An overview of the functions of the bureau. Sat Dec 23 00:38:28 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 505.8 (26, 0) §505.8, INSURANCE DIVISION 2 (b) The structure of the bureau including the number and type of staff positions.(c) Statistics showing the number of complaints handled by the bureau, the nature of the complaints including the line of business involved and their disposition, and the dispositionof similar issues in other states. (d) Actions commenced by the consumer advocate.(e) Studies performed by the consumer advocate.(f) Educational and outreach efforts of the consumer advocate bureau.(g) Recommendations from the commissioner and the consumer advocate about additional consumer protection functions that would be appropriate and useful for thebureau or the insurance division to fulfill based on observations and analysis of trends incomplaints and information derived from national or other sources. (h) Recommendations from the commissioner and the consumer advocate about any needs for additional funding, staffing, is of trends incomplaints and information derived from national or other sources. (h) Recommendations from the commissioner and the consumer advocate about any needs for additional funding, staffing, legislation, or administrative rules. c. When necessary or appropriate to protect the public interest or consumers, the commissioner may conduct, or the commissioner’s designee may request that thecommissioner conduct, administrative hearings as provided in this subtitle. d. The commissioner may adopt rules for the administration of this subsection.7. The commissioner shall have regulatory authority over health benefit plans and adopt rules under chapter 17A as necessary, to promote the uniformity, cost efficiency, transparency,and fairness of such plans for physicians and osteopathic physicians licensed under chapter148 and hospitals licensed under chapter 135B, for the purpose of maximizing administrativeefficiencies and minimizing administrative costs of health care providers and health insurers. 8. a. Notwithstanding chapter 22, the commissioner shall keep confidential the information submitted to the insurance division or obtained by the insurance division inthe course of an ealth insurers. 8. a. Notwithstanding chapter 22, the commissioner shall keep confidential the information submitted to the insurance division or obtained by the insurance division inthe course of an investigation or inquiry pursuant to subsection 6, including all notes,work papers, or other documents related to the investigation. Information obtained by thecommissioner in the course of investigating a complaint or inquiry may, in the discretionof the commissioner, be provided to the insurance company or insurance producer that isthe subject of the complaint or inquiry, to the consumer who filed the complaint or inquiry,and to the individual insured who is the subject of the complaint or inquiry, without waivingthe confidentiality afforded to the commissioner or to other persons by this subsection. Thecommissioner may disclose or release information that is otherwise confidential under thissubsection, in the course of an administrative or judicial proceeding. b. Notwithstanding chapter 22, the commissioner shall keep confidential both information obtained by or submitted to the insurance division pursuant to chapters 514J and 515D. c. judicial proceeding. b. Notwithstanding chapter 22, the commissioner shall keep confidential both information obtained by or submitted to the insurance division pursuant to chapters 514J and 515D. c. The commissioner shall adopt rules protecting the privacy of information held by an insurer or an agent consistent with the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Pub. L. No. 106-102. d. Notwithstanding paragraphs 'a', 'b', and 'c', if the commissioner determines that it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of the public, thecommissioner may share information with other regulatory authorities or governmentalagencies or may publish information concerning a violation of this chapter or a rule ororder under this chapter. Such information may be redacted so that personally identifiableinformation is not made available. e. The commissioner may adopt rules protecting the privacy of information submitted to the insurance division consistent with this section. 9. Notwithstanding chapter 22, the commissioner may keep confidential any social security number, residence address, and residence telephone number that is contained in arecord filed as part of a licensing, ithstanding chapter 22, the commissioner may keep confidential any social security number, residence address, and residence telephone number that is contained in arecord filed as part of a licensing, registration, or filing process if disclosure is not requiredin the performance of any duty or is not otherwise required under law. 10. The commissioner may, after a hearing conducted pursuant to chapter 17A, assess fines or penalties; assess costs of an examination, investigation, or proceeding; orderrestitution; or take other corrective action as the commissioner deems necessary andappropriate to accomplish compliance with the laws of the state relating to all insurancebusiness transacted in the state. 11. The commissioner may do any of the following:a. Conduct public or private investigations within or outside of this state which the Sat Dec 23 00:38:28 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 505.8 (26, 0) commissioner deems necessary or appropriate to determine whether a person has violated,is violating, or is about to violate a provision of any chapter of this subtitle or a rule adoptedor order issued under any chapter of this subtitle, or to aid in the enforcement of any chapterof this s violating, or is about to violate a provision of any chapter of this subtitle or a rule adoptedor order issued under any chapter of this subtitle, or to aid in the enforcement of any chapterof this subtitle or in the adoption of rules and forms under any chapter of this subtitle. b. Require or permit a person to testify, file a statement, or produce a record under oath or otherwise as the commissioner determines, concerning facts and circumstances relatingto a matter being investigated or about which an action or proceeding will be instituted. c. Notwithstanding subsection 8, publish a record concerning an action, proceeding, or investigation under, or a violation of, any chapter of this subtitle or a rule adopted or orderissued under any chapter of this subtitle, if the commissioner determines that such publicationis in the public interest and is necessary and appropriate for the protection of the public. 12. For the purpose of an investigation made under any chapter of this subtitle, the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee may administer oaths and affirmations,subpoena witnesses, seek compulsory attendance, take evidence, require the filing ofstatements, and require itle, the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee may administer oaths and affirmations,subpoena witnesses, seek compulsory attendance, take evidence, require the filing ofstatements, and require the production of any records that the commissioner considersrelevant or material to the investigation, pursuant to rules adopted under chapter 17A. Theconfidentiality provisions of subsection 8 shall apply to information and material obtainedpursuant to this subsection. 13. If a person does not appear or refuses to testify, or does not file a statement or produce records, or otherwise does not obey a subpoena or order issued by the commissioner underany chapter of this subtitle, the commissioner may, in addition to assessing the penaltiescontained in sections 505.7A, 507B.6A, 507B.7, 522B.11, and 522B.17, make application to adistrict court of this state or another state to enforce compliance with the subpoena or order. Acourt to whom application is made to enforce compliance with a subpoena or order pursuantto this subtitle may do any of the following: a. Hold the person in contempt.b. Order the person to appear before the commissioner.c. on is made to enforce compliance with a subpoena or order pursuantto this subtitle may do any of the following: a. Hold the person in contempt.b. Order the person to appear before the commissioner.c. Order the person to testify about the matter under investigation.d. Order the production of records.e. Grant injunctive relief, including restricting or prohibiting the offer or sale of insurance or insurance advice. f. Impose a civil penalty as set forth in section 505.7A. g. Grant any other necessary or appropriate relief.14. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a person from applying to a district court of this state or another state for relief from a subpoena or order issued by the commissionerunder any chapter of this subtitle. 15. An individual shall not be relieved of an order to appear, testify, file a statement, produce a record or other evidence, or obey a subpoena or other order of the commissionermade under any chapter of this subtitle on the grounds that fulfillment of the requirementmay, directly or indirectly, tend to incriminate the individual or subject the individual to acriminal fine, penalty, or forfeiture. of this subtitle on the grounds that fulfillment of the requirementmay, directly or indirectly, tend to incriminate the individual or subject the individual to acriminal fine, penalty, or forfeiture. If an individual refuses to obey a subpoena or orderby asserting that individual’s privilege against self-incrimination, the commissioner mayapply to the district court to compel the individual to obey the subpoena or order of thecommissioner. Testimony, records, or other evidence that is compelled by a court enforcingan order of the commissioner shall not be used, directly or indirectly, against that individualin a criminal case, except in a prosecution for perjury or contempt or for otherwise failingto comply with the order. 16. Upon request of the insurance regulator of another state or foreign jurisdiction, the commissioner may provide assistance in conducting an investigation to determinewhether a person has violated, is violating, or is about to violate an insurance law orrule of the other state or foreign jurisdiction administered or enforced by that insuranceregulator. The commissioner may provide such assistance pursuant to the powers conferredunder this section as the of the other state or foreign jurisdiction administered or enforced by that insuranceregulator. The commissioner may provide such assistance pursuant to the powers conferredunder this section as the commissioner determines is necessary or appropriate under thecircumstances. Such assistance may be provided regardless of whether the conduct beinginvestigated would constitute a violation of this subtitle or any other law of this state ifthe conduct occurred in this state. In determining whether to provide such assistance the Sat Dec 23 00:38:29 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 505.8 (26, 0) §505.8, INSURANCE DIVISION 4 commissioner may consider whether the insurance regulator requesting the assistance ispermitted to and has agreed to reciprocate in providing assistance to the commissioner uponrequest, whether compliance with the request would violate or prejudice the public policy ofthis state, and the availability of division commissioner resources and employees to providesuch assistance. 17. The commissioner shall utilize the senior health insurance information program to assist in the dissemination of objective and noncommercial educational material and to raiseawareness of prudent 17. The commissioner shall utilize the senior health insurance information program to assist in the dissemination of objective and noncommercial educational material and to raiseawareness of prudent consumer choices in considering the purchase of various insuranceproducts designed for the health care needs of older Iowans. 18. The commissioner shall annually convene a work group composed of the consumer advocate, health insurance carriers, health care providers, small employers that purchasehealth insurance under chapter 513B, and individual consumers in the state for thepurpose of considering ways to reduce the cost of providing health insurance coverageand health care services, including but not limited to utilization of uniform billing codes,improvements to provider credentialing procedures, reducing out-of-state care expenses,annually assessing the impact of federal health care reform legislation on health carecosts in the state and determining whether such legislation has reduced the cost of healthinsurance in the state, and the electronic delivery of explanation of benefits statements. tion on health carecosts in the state and determining whether such legislation has reduced the cost of healthinsurance in the state, and the electronic delivery of explanation of benefits statements. Therecommendations made by the work group shall be included in the annual report filed withthe general assembly pursuant to section 505.18. 19. The commissioner may propose and promulgate administrative rules to effectuate the insurance provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No.111-148, as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,Pub. L. No. 111-152, and any amendments thereto, or other applicable federal law. [S13, §1683-r3; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §8613; C46, 50, 54, §505.8; C58, 62, §505.8, 522.3; C66, 71, 73, §505.8, 515.150, 522.3; C75, 77, 79, 81, §505.8] 83 Acts, ch 27, §10; 88 Acts, ch 1159, §2; 90 Acts, ch 1234, §2; 94 Acts, ch 1176, §3; 97 Acts, ch 23, §61; 98 Acts, ch 1119, §3; 99 Acts, ch 114, §41; 2000 Acts, ch 1023, §4, 5; 2002 Acts, ch1111, §6; 2003 Acts, ch 91, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 137, §6; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §117; 2008 Acts, ch1123, §7 – 9; 2008 Acts, ch 1175, §1; 2008 Acts, ch 1188, §21; 2009 Acts, ts, ch 1023, §4, 5; 2002 Acts, ch1111, §6; 2003 Acts, ch 91, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 137, §6; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §117; 2008 Acts, ch1123, §7 – 9; 2008 Acts, ch 1175, §1; 2008 Acts, ch 1188, §21; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §168; 2009Acts, ch 145, §3; 2010 Acts, ch 1121, §5, 33; 2011 Acts, ch 70, §2, 3; 2013 Acts, ch 124, §7 Referred to in §505.7, 505.18, 508.36, 508E.10, 514G.110, 515D.10See also §523A.801 and 523I.201 Sat Dec 23 00:38:29 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 505.8 (26, 0)
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